On 6 December 2023, in Berlin, Germany, the SADC Secretariat and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany concluded the SADC-Germany Bilateral Negotiations on Development Cooperation which are held once in two years enabling both sides to discuss and reflect on the existing cooperation. The outcome of these negotiations is a financial commitment of an additional EUR 36.4 million by the German Government, in support of the SADC regional programmes.
The SADC side was led by the SADC Executive Secretary, H.E. Mr Elias Magosi, while the German side, Ms Birgit Gerhardus, Head of the Division for Southern Africa at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Dr. Barbara Kofler Parliamentary State Secretary BMZ) made a keynote address. The SADC Executive Secretary was accompanied by Ms Angele Makombo N’tumba, Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, Directors and technical officers. The delegation from the German Government included representatives from the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Federal Foreign Office, the German Embassy in Botswana, German implementing agencies such as Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ - German Agency for International Cooperation) and “Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau” (KfW - Investment and Development Bank) and Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB).
The programmes that continue to be supported over the years include regional economic integration, transboundary water management, transboundary protection and use of natural resources, Strengthening National Regional Linkages and support of the Strategic Management Pillar of the RISDP. The SADC Executive Secretary acknowledged that since 1985 the German Government has continued to support the implementation of SADC programmes. Ongoing programmes are aligned with the SADC Vision 2050 and the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP), including the Prioritised RISDP 2020-2030 Projects. He assured the German Government that SADC does not take the gesture of support lightly.
Mr Magosi committed that the Secretariat will collaborate with the German Government in the implementation of the availed support, to enhance results and impact on regional integration, poverty alleviation and sustainable development. “Peace, Security and Democratic Governance are the foundation for socio-economic development in our region. For this reason, we continue to pay particular focus on strengthening political cooperation, and enhancing democracy, good governance, and human security in the region”, remarked the SADC Executive Secretary.
Ms Birgit Gerhardus expressed that the German Government is committed to supporting SADC in the implementation of the regional integration agenda. Ms Gerhardus highlighted that the planned commitments are an outcome of technical consultations that facilitated the joint identification of interventions. Both sides expressed the need to enhance communication and visibility of the SADC-German Cooperation, through success stories on the results and impact achieved in the implementation of German-funded projects.
On the margins of the SADC-German Bilateral Negotiations, the SADC Executive Secretary held a courtesy meeting with Ms Sarah Bernardy, Head of Division for Southern Africa at Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, to discuss matters related to peace and security. Both sides expressed concerns about the prevailing security situation in both the SADC and EU regions and acknowledged that peace and security an enabler of regional integration, hence it is paramount to enhance cooperation towards measures aimed at promoting peace and stability.
While in Germany the SADC delegation engaged with the German Implementing Agencies, including Heads of GIZ and KfW. Both agencies congratulated the Secretariat on the successful negotiations with the German Government and committed to collaborate with the Secretariat in the implementation of the identified additional support.
Mr Philipp Knill Director Africa II for BMZ hosted the SADC delegation and SADC Ambassadors based in Berlin which accorded SADC to further express gratitude for the support. This forum accorded the SADC Executive Secretary a forum to urge the Ambassadors to promote the work of SADC abroad, including exploring avenues for mobilising resources in the international community.
The conclusion of the negotiations set in motion the implementation of programmes up to 2025, where the next round of bilateral negotiations will be held, hosted by the SADC region.
